“We’re excited to partner with Fujifilm, for them to provide us with the resources to be able to execute it, and also bring in speakers who were so supportive to the photographers,” enthuses Carmen.

All program participants also planned and carried out a two-week photography project demonstrating the themes of relationship and community. They were lent FUJIFILM GFX50S II with FUJINON GF35-70mmF4.5-5.6 WR for the duration of the project. Three winners were picked based on their ability to address the brief and create a visually impactful work that felt authentic to their individual style. Each successful image maker has been given their very own GFX50S II to keep.

“Everybody built new relationships, created new work, and learned a lot that they’re able to apply to grow their commercial careers,” concludes Carmen. “The goal of the entire program was to help people grow, and everybody achieved that.”

Below, we explore the three winning projects, discovering the ‘why’ behind each one.

Although Field 7 was created over the course of two weeks, it was much longer in the making for Pratya. He has been building a relationship with this community for nearly a year – and it was their unquestioningly welcoming nature that made him want to dedicate his project to them.

“I like soccer. Personally, I like to watch. I play too, but I’m not that great,” smiles Pratya. “Usually, I go to the park at the weekend, and I just started watching this game. I carry my camera with me all the time, so I started making pictures. That’s how I met the organizer – I told her, ‘Hey, I made some photos of the game, would you like them?’ She said, ‘Oh, absolutely.’

“Her name is Margarida, and she is the second generation – the original founder of the tournament was her father. After he passed away, she carried on the tournament with her husband; they’ve been doing it for 15 or 20 years now.

“Most of the people there speak Spanish, but I don’t. With some people, we can’t have a conversation, but they know me – they like my pictures. They’ll nod their head and smile, then speak in Spanish, and I know they’re saying, ‘Do you want some food, something to drink?’”

That’s the dynamic Pratya sought to highlight with this project. “It’s a story of how sports can uplift individuals and communities, transcending language and cultural barriers.”

Seeds of Solidarity is a project exploring two community farms in Asheville, North Carolina. Both are combating the systemic issue of minority demographics being denied access to sources of nutritious food.

“It’s about a woman called Delia and the co-op she founded,” describes Juan Diego. “It was all Latine folk, and essentially a reaction to the pandemic and the food apartheid that impacts so many communities of color around the US. It’s a way for her and her community to come together and have healthy food for themselves.

“Parallel to that, I also have a friend called Chloe who is the manager at a community farm in town. She does an amazing job with her community to empower and build. Asheville also has a history of African Americans being pushed out as gentrification has played its role – so there’s a lot of complexity around the topic of African American and Latine communities in Asheville.”

By setting out to document these communities, Juan Diego found himself generously welcomed into them. “I’ve given them some photographs, and both organizations want to continue to work together so we can amplify their stories,” he enthuses. “These are fascinating accounts – immigrants like myself who, for a multitude of reasons, have ended up in Asheville and are now part of a group doing amazing things.”

Threads of Memory focuses on the connection between a woman and her grandmother. “My story is about the relationship of Ruth, 95, and her granddaughter Rianna, 32. Rianna is a medic, who stepped away from her career to be a full-time caregiver for Ruth,” describes Rosem. “Ruth suffered a stroke last year, and lost most of her memories, including those of her family.

“On a personal level, like Rianna, I worked in healthcare and had this intense job for a long time. To then step away and do something incredibly important to you – that resonated with me.

“Watching the relationship throughout the days I spent with them emphasized the weight of being a caregiver. But despite all that, there is beauty in that kind of work – being present with the people most important to you.

“Oftentimes, when we imagine stepping back to take care of a loved one who is ageing or sick, we think about it in a very sad lens. I wanted people to see it in all its complexities. That’s the storytelling I’ve always gravitated towards – and was happy to do that for this project.”

Learn more about Diversify Photo, browse the directory of photographers and apply to become a member yourself at the website here.

To learn more about the products featured in this article, visit FUJIFILM GFX50S II here and FUJINON GF35-70mmF4.5-5.6 WR here.